Media services with access control

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are describe wherein a service provider provides media services that can include, but are not limited to, telephone, radio, interactive and television services. A user residence and/or a user receiving device are designated as a primary location or device for receiving the services of the service provider. An authorization center authenticates a request to provide the service(s) at one or more secondary location/device. The verification process can include, but is not limited to, password(s), Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and biometric identifiers such as voice, retina, finger print and DNA.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of and claims priority U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/195,492 to Novack et al. filed Mar. 3, 2014,which is a continuation of and claims priority U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/190,310, filed Jul. 26, 2005 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,706,082),the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to providing services and, more particularly,the portability of media services.

BACKGROUND

Service providing companies such a television, radio, interactive media,Internet access and telephone companies typically contract withcustomers for services. The contracts can include basic services andoptional enhancements.

Television services, such as cable and satellite, are associated witheither a physical address and/or receiver device located at the physicaladdress. For example, television service plans are semi-custom to allowa receiver device (set-top box) to access media content. Cable andsatellite services can allow customers to select service plans thatinclude basic service and enhanced services such as access to moviechannels. Further, customer specific settings or profiles such asparental controls to prevent children from accessing undesired mediacontent can be specified for the customer receiver device.

In addition to satellite television services, satellite radio servicesare also available. Similar to the satellite television and cellulartelephone services, the satellite radio service allows a specificreceiving device to access audio content. A customer can select aservice plan that allows access to a selection of satellite radiostations.

Services and media delivery services are currently often associated witha customer and the customer's physical address or device. For example,service plans, such as long distance telephone rates, for wiredtelephone services are provided to a physical address. Similarly,cellular telephone services and plans are associated with specific phonedevices. Calling cards are available which allow the user to chargetelephone usage against a pre-paid, debit or credit account. The feesassociated with the calling card are often excessive compared tocontracted accounts for other telephone services. For example, aresidential telephone service agreement may provide unlimited longdistance calling at specified times. Further, cellular telephone serviceagreements often provide free incoming and outgoing calls up to aspecified periodic limit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates service systems according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is flow chart illustrating methods according to embodiments ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following descriptions, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however,to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention may bepracticed without making use of many of these specific details.

A substantial limitation of the prior art service systems, as describedabove, is the association to a specific location or device. Embodimentsof the present invention provide portability of services. Referring toFIG. 1, a service system 100 of an embodiment of the invention isdescribed. The system includes a service provider 110. The serviceprovider can include, but is not limited to, telephone, radio,interactive (including shopping and gaming), Internet access andtelevision service providers, generally referred to herein as eitherservice providers, or media service providers. A user residence 130and/or a user receiving device 140 is designated as a primary locationor device for receiving the services of the service provider. Asecondary location 150 and/or secondary receiver 160 allows the user toreceive the services of the service provider 110.

An authorization center 120 is provided to authenticate a request toprovide the contracted services at the secondary location/device. In oneembodiment the authorization center is a component of the serviceprovider, as illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 1. In anotherembodiment, the authorization center is separate from the serviceprovider. The authorization center 120 verifies the identity of the userusing a verification process. The verification process can include, butis not limited to, password(s), Personal Identification Numbers (PIN)and biometric identifiers such as voice, retina, finger print and DNA ofthe user.

One example method embodiment of the present invention is described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 2. A media service provider such as asatellite television provider contracts with a user for services, at200. The services can include access to specified media content, such asmovie channels. The user can designate a primary location or device forreceiving the services, at 210. Further, the contracted services canoptionally include executing a user profile indicating preferences, at220.

In this example, a primary satellite receiver can be designated at theuser's residence. When the user is at a secondary location capable ofreceiving the services, the user places a request for access to thecontracted services, at 230. For example, the user may be visiting arelative at a secondary location where the relative has a satellitetelevision service, but has not contracted for access to the mediacontent accessible via the user's contracted service.

At step 240, the user's request is processed by the authorization centerto verify the identity of the user. If the authorization center isseparate from the media service provider, a notification is issued bythe authentication center to the media provider after verifying the useridentity at 250. Based upon a positive identification, at step 260, thecontracted services are provided at the secondary location/device.

In exchange for the services, the user typically pays a monetary fee.The fees can be paid using any compensation process, such as an invoiceto a physical location, debit, credit or a direct transfer transaction.The invention is not limited to any specific fee payment systems. Atstep 270, service usage records and billing are maintained for the user,regardless of a location of the service usage.

In one embodiment, the services are provided at the requested secondarylocation while the service usage charges (if any) are maintained as ifthe services were used at the primary location. For example, the usermay order a pay-per-view video via a satellite television media service.The video is viewed at the secondary location while the fee for theservice is processed along with any other fees incurred by the user viathe normal fee payment arrangement.

Embodiments of the invention can restrict access to contracted servicesto a single location or receiver at one time. That is, transferring theservice to a secondary location prohibits access to the services at theprimary location. In another embodiment, the primary location remainsactive while an additional service fee may be required to activate thesecondary location. This embodiment can be used to authorize service toone or more secondary locations. For example, a parent can authorizeservices to a child location, such as a college dormitory. Further, thesecondary location can be automatically terminated. For example,subsequently assessing the services at the primary location canterminate access at the secondary location. Alternately, a timelimitation may trigger termination of the transferred service access.

In one embodiment, the user's profile is applied to the transferredservice location. That is, the secondary location is treated as theprimary location for purposes of profile preferences. For example,parental controls established for a child, language preferences and textcaptioning are applied to the services provided at the secondarylocation.

Again, the services are not limited to video services. The serviceprovider can provide telephone communication services. The user canrequest that their contracted communication services be applied to asecondary telephone or device. As such, the user can apply contractedcommunication rates to any capable device.

In yet another embodiment, advertising content can be targeted to theidentified user. That is, once the user's location is identified morepersonalized advertising can be provided. For example, a televisionservice provider can provide advertising to the secondary location basedupon the verification that the user is accessing the service. Inaddition to basic advertising, targeted advertising based upon theuser's past preferences and the current location of the user can provideadvertising for ‘local’ businesses near the user's current location.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system 300 within which a set of instructions, when executed,may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein. In some embodiments, the machine operates as astandalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected(e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment,the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client usermachine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machinein a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine maycomprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA), a cellular telephone, a mobile device, a palmtop computer, alaptop computer, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant, acommunications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. It will be understood that a device of the presentinvention includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice,video or data communication. Further, while a single machine isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include anycollection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (ormultiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 300 may include a processor 302 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), amain memory 304 and a static memory 306, which communicate with eachother via a bus 308. The computer system 300 may further include a videodisplay unit 310 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system300 may include an input device 312 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 314 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 316, a signal generationdevice 318 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 320.

The disk drive unit 316 may include a machine-readable medium 322 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 324)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated in herein above. Theinstructions 324 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 304, the static memory 306, and/or within theprocessor 302 during execution thereof by the computer system 300. Themain memory 304 and the processor 302 also may constitutemachine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including,but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits,programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications thatmay include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadlyinclude a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodimentsimplement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardwaremodules or devices with related control and data signals communicatedbetween and through the modules, or as portions of anapplication-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system isapplicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present invention contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 324, or that which receives and executes instructions 324from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 326 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 326 using the instructions 324. Theinstructions 324 may further be transmitted or received over a network326 via the network interface device 320.

While the machine-readable medium 322 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to:solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that housesone or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories,or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or opticalmedium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signalembodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or adigital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained informationarchive or set of archives is considered a distribution mediumequivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the invention isconsidered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or adistribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognizedequivalents and successor media, in which the software implementationsherein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the invention is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are merely representational andmay not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description. The illustrations ofembodiments described herein are intended to provide a generalunderstanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are notintended to serve as a complete description of all the elements andfeatures of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structuresdescribed herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those ofskill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodimentsmay be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R.§1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: providing, over a networkby a system including a processor, media services to a primary mediareceiver and a primary voice communication device at a first locationaccording to a subscription plan, wherein the media services comprise aninternet access service and a voice communication service; obtaining, bythe system, an authentication of a request for media services at asecond location based on the media services requested; enabling, by thesystem, access to the media services for the second location withoutproviding video services at the second location, wherein the secondlocation is not designated under the subscription plan to access themedia services; determining advertising content that is associated withvendors within a target distance of the second location; and providingthe advertising content with the media services at the second location.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second location includes asecondary media receiver and for a secondary voice communication device.3. The method of claim 2, comprising terminating access to the mediaservices at the secondary media receiver responsive to detecting accessto the media services at the primary media receiver, wherein theenabling of the access to the media services for the secondary mediareceiver and for the secondary voice communication device at the secondlocation is without providing video-on-demand services at the secondlocation.
 4. The method of claim 2, comprising terminating access to themedia services at the secondary media receiver responsive to expirationof a time period, wherein the enabling of the access to the mediaservices for the secondary media receiver and for the secondary voicecommunication device at the second location is without providingvideo-on-demand services at the second location.
 5. The method of claim2, further comprising combining records of service usage of the primaryand secondary media receivers and the primary and secondary voicecommunication devices.
 6. The method of claim 2, further comprisingcombining records of service usage of the primary and secondary voicecommunication devices.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein operations ofthe system are managed by a first entity that is different from a secondentity that performs the authentication of the request, and wherein thefirst location and the second location are remote from each other. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the authentication furthercomprises determining identification information of a user submittingthe request, and wherein the authentication is based on theidentification information and media services requested.
 9. Anon-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, comprisinginstructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, aprocessor performs operations comprising: providing, over a network,media services to a primary media receiver and a primary voicecommunication device at a first location according to a subscriptionplan, wherein the media services comprise an internet access service anda voice communication service; obtaining a request for media services ata secondary location, wherein the request includes identificationinformation, wherein the secondary location includes a secondary mediareceiver; obtaining authorization for the media services based on themedia services requested and the identification information; enablingaccess to the media services for the secondary media receiver and for asecondary voice communication device at the second location withoutproviding video services at the second location, wherein the secondlocation is not designated under the subscription plan to access themedia services; and combining records of service usage of the primaryand secondary media receivers and the primary and secondary voicecommunication devices.
 10. The non-transitory, machine-readable storagemedium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: determiningadvertising content that is associated with vendors within a targetdistance of the second location; and providing the advertising contentwith the media services.
 11. The non-transitory, machine-readablestorage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further compriseterminating access to the media services at the secondary media receiverresponsive to detecting access to the media services at the primarymedia receiver, wherein the enabling of the access to the media servicesfor the secondary media receiver and for the secondary voicecommunication device at the second location is without providingvideo-on-demand services at the second location.
 12. The non-transitory,machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the operationsfurther comprise terminating access to the media services at thesecondary media receiver responsive to expiration of a time period,wherein the enabling of the access to the media services for thesecondary media receiver and for the secondary voice communicationdevice at the second location is without providing video-on-demandservices at the second location.
 13. The non-transitory,machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the media servicesat the second location are subject to parental control filters appliedat the secondary media receiver based on a user profile associated withthe primary media receiver.
 14. The non-transitory, machine-readablestorage medium of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprisecombining records of service usage of the primary and secondary voicecommunication devices.
 15. The non-transitory, machine-readable storagemedium of claim 9, wherein access to the media services at both theprimary and secondary locations at a same time invokes an additionalservice fee.
 16. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium ofclaim 9, wherein the operations of the processor is managed by a firstentity that is different from a second entity that obtains theauthentication of the request.
 17. An apparatus, comprising: a memorythat stores instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, whereinresponsive to executing the instructions, the processor performsoperations comprising: providing, over a network, media services to aprimary media receiver and a primary voice communication device at afirst location according to a subscription plan, wherein the mediaservices comprise an internet access service and a voice communicationservice; obtaining a request for media services at a secondary location,wherein the request includes identification information, wherein thesecondary location includes a secondary media receiver; obtainingauthorization for the media services based on the media servicesrequested and the identification information; and enabling access to themedia services for a secondary media receiver and for a secondary voicecommunication device at the second location without providing videoservices at the second location, wherein the second location is notdesignated under the subscription plan to access the media services,wherein the operations are managed by a first entity that is differentfrom a second entity that obtains the authentication of the request. 18.The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:determining advertising content that is associated with vendors within atarget distance of the second location; and providing the advertisingcontent with the media services.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, whereinthe operations further comprise terminating access to the media servicesat the secondary media receiver responsive to detecting access to themedia services at the primary media receiver, wherein the enabling ofthe access to the media services for the secondary media receiver andfor the secondary voice communication device at the second location iswithout providing video-on-demand services at the second location. 20.The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the operations further compriseterminating access to the media services at the secondary media receiverresponsive to expiration of a time period, wherein the enabling of theaccess to the media services for the secondary media receiver and forthe secondary voice communication device at the second location iswithout providing video-on-demand services at the second location.